When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. OurPrivacy Noticeexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time.

This Friday, less than 24 hours after the Government make their next decision on lockdown, the 20 clubs in the Premier League are set to convene again to decide whether they begin again in neutral “approved” venues amid unprecedented times.

But will it be Project Restart...or Project No Start?

The clues to which way it will go were clear and evident from the video conference gathering last Friday when the clubs were presented with the proposals.

This is the inside story of what happened.

Starting at 10.30am, every club was given time and a chance to put forward their views which is why the meeting took nearly four hours but for those on the call, it was obvious which way the wind was blowing.

Liverpool will be desperate to wrap up the title (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

And that is moving towards a push to return.

Premier League rules mean that votes need a 14-6 majority to get a motion through – and it appears to be as finely balanced at exactly that figure in favour of the game re-starting.

According to our source, the clubs who spoke up against the restart in the current guise were those in the bottom six – Brighton, West Ham, Watford, Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Norwich.

In fact, our source insisted that it was not as simple as the big six against the rest but more the bottom six against the rest because Newcastle, Southampton, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Leicester and Sheffield United “were all very strong on finishing."

Norwich are against restarting (Image: Alex Livesey)

Villa may be willing to play but have concerns about neutral grounds and chief executive Christian Purslow raised concerns on player welfare.

The naysayers might not want to end the season full stop – but they are against playing on under the current proposals.

Issues such as the balancing act of matches being played in a selection of neutral grounds.

At the meeting, Brighton, who are sixth from bottom and two points off the relegation zone, expressed clear reservations in that five of their remaining nine games were at home at the Amex and four of them were against big clubs – Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United.

Brighton claim a neutral venue will put them at a disadvantage (Image: EMPICS Sport)

With no home advantage, does that not put them at a huge disadvantage?

Brighton argued heavily on this issue, that it was unfair.

Their chief executive Paul Barber has gone on record as stressing that they should be allowed to play at the Amex and neutral grounds is wrong. Brighton have affectively gone rogue but it is understood others are tempted to follow suit as they feel so aggrieved.

But it is understood that Sheffield United actually made the point that Brighton were forgetting that every club now has “away advantage” – neutral grounds are more of a level-playing field.

And it is the same for both teams, rather than struggling sides facing a tough away game.

West Ham, a place below Brighton in the table, sounded major reservations from the player safety aspect. They argued strongly on player welfare.

But the FA pointed out that clubs should be careful on what precedents are being set because if this season was called off, then next season would be in jeopardy as well as the coronavirus is not going away any time soon.

The Premier League said “industry leading safety measures” were being used to give players all of the necessary assurances before they go back to training.

But during the meeting, it was argued that no-one will be “100 percent safe” until a vaccine is found – so should the doors remain closed until then?

It was also stressed that the Government will decide on testing and no footballer will be tested ahead of a key frontline worker.

One big club insisted it should not be overlooked that some Premier League clubs employ over 600 staff and their jobs will be jeopardy along with community schemes if they cannot get going again because of the finances at stake.

But even the clubs who are fully onboard are well aware that some of their players have concerns about their health and also of their families.

The video conference call was presented with a seven page document of a stage one return to training which would mean strict social distancing including four players and a goalkeeper on one pitch.

They were told the protocols have yet to be agreed with the Government so the discussion was limited.

The Premier League has been suspended since mid March (Image: REUTERS)

Individual training could return at every club within the next fortnight, team training by May 18 and the Government could allow Premier League football to be start again on Friday June 12.

Ironically, that was the date Euro 2020 was set to begin.

The fixture list will remain in the same order, with the FA Cup also factored in and the final potentially on August 8, with games played as frequently as every three days.

The hope is that the season could be completed between six and seven weeks.

THE OTHER KEY ISSUES

Away games now give teams an advantage they did not have before so it is balanced against losing home advantage.

It was also made clear that the “eight to ten” stadiums being chosen as neutral “approved venues” was the choice of the police and Government and not the Premier League.

The Premier League described it as “a test” for next season and told the clubs that if they can demonstrate it can work safely then it could return to 20 grounds for next season.

They would also look at returning teams to their own grounds for next season even though some advantage would be greatly reduced if games are behind closed doors.

Will fans stay away? Will grounds be kept secret to stop fans from turning up?

Our source insists it was stressed that the British public have shown they can obey orders to stay inside. There is no reason to say they won’t do that now. Especially when each club will make it clear to their fans to stay at home and watch it on TV.

There was no suggestion on the video conference call to the clubs that the grounds will be kept secret.

June 30 contract cut off dates

It was argued that there is a small minority of players - around 75 - who will become free agents on June 30. Premier League contracts aldo contain a provision to ensure out of contract players are paid until July 31.

Also, any player would only be allowed to play for his current club until the season finished independent of when the window opens.

Player safety

This was stressed as the “number one concern.” The clubs were told the Premier League are now on the DCMS multi sport panel. They have the Government’s epidemiologists and virologists advising. Our source insisted that they need to sign off the protocols. It was stressed they will say when it’s safe to play - and not anyone else. Our source added: “I would say everyone was glad to hear that it would be industry leading safety measures to give players and staff the assurances.”

Return to training under strict lockdown rules

The video conference call was presented with a seven page document of a stage one return to training which the clubs were told would mean strict social distancing including four players and a goalkeeper on one pitch. They were told the protocols have yet to be agreed with the Government so the discussion was limited. The source added: “All those points have not been discussed at this stage. Step by step and monitor.”